Birches moves on in NORCO Legion playoffs

Saylorsburg — Top seeded Birches won a nail biter Thursday to reach the semi-finals of NORCO Legion baseball playoffs thanks to a 3-1 victory over No. 8 Hellertown.

LAUREN LITTS

Saylorsburg — Top seeded Birches won a nail biter Thursday to reach the semi-finals of NORCO Legion baseball playoffs thanks to a 3-1 victory over No. 8 Hellertown.

"I was sweating bullets," Birches coach Harold Faust said. "That last at bat I was just hoping they wouldn't get a hit."

With a 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh, Birches pitcher Dan Hrbek worked himself into and out of trouble. Trying to put a two-hit shutout in the books, Hrbek issued three straight walks to load the bases.

"I told myself to settle down and take a deep breath," Hrbek said. "I just had to throw strikes. Luckily as the inning went on I did that."

He found the zone again as he fanned the next two batters, but gave up his fourth walk of the inning to push through Hellertown's only run.

"I had faith in Dan," first baseman Howie Stevens said. "I started to get a little nervous, but he got control and came back strong. He pitched a great game."

Hrbek ended the game on a two-out, bases-loaded strikeout, his 10th of the day.

Stevens accounted for two of the three Birches' runs, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

"I felt great today after making some minor adjustments," Stevens said. "I came out today and saw the ball well and didn't waste any time."

Birches' third run came in the first on aggressive base running by Hrbek and an error on Hellertown catcher Tom Misiak.

"A couple guys came up big today, we were hitting the ball and that's what we need to keep going in playoffs," Hrbek said.